Department for Transport

Roads: Accidents

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate, if any, they have made of the number of deaths in England and Wales involving personnel deployed to provide roadside assistance and repairs services on A-roads and motorways in each year since 2010.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department does not hold specific data on deaths involving personnel deployed to provide roadside assistance and repair services, as this information is not required when road accidents are reported to the police through the Stats19 accident reporting form. The Department periodically reviews the data collection on personal injury road accidents reported to the police, in a process called Stats19 reviews. A Stats19 review started in autumn 2018 and is currently considering what amendments need to be made to the collection. In making recommendations for change, the review considers evidence on the burden this would impose on the police to collect it for every accident, the practicality and likely quality of the data collected and potential benefits in building the road safety evidence base to save lives. We aim to consult on potential changes to the collection in 2020 following detailed engagement with the police and road safety organisations in 2019.

Roads: Safety

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide further hazard warning and safety assurance for personnel providing roadside assistance and repair services.

baroness vere of norbiton: Highways England recently worked with the SURVIVE group, a partnership between the National Police Chiefs' Council, the breakdown/recovery industry, Highways England and other service providers, to introduce ten ‘Overarching Rules’ for recovery operators providing roadside assistance and repair services. These have been welcomed by all SURVIVE members. Highways England has also worked with REACT, the national training arm for tyre fitters across England, who regularly operate on the strategic road network. Highways England would not expect or encourage a recovery operator to work in a live lane without the appropriate support from Highways England staff, a police officer or other appropriate traffic management. Highways England’s traffic officers are trained to protect all vulnerable road users and work to the principle that they only leave a scene once it is clear, or suitable control measures are in place. In 2017 Highways England worked with the roadside recovery industry and the emergency services to consider four different recovery scenarios for smart motorways. These scenarios were tested live on a full-scale mock-up of an emergency area. As a result of this collaborative exercise, SURVIVE’s best practice guidelines were updated, covering communications and procedures for recovery on a smart motorway. An information film with supporting materials was also produced, and became a core part of an improved training package shared across the recovery industry.

Trains: Lincolnshire

lord bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any implications arising from replacing single car class 153 diesel trains with two car class 156 unitson services in Lincolnshire which currently usesingle units.

baroness vere of norbiton: The next East Midlands franchise begins on 18 August 2019. The new operator, Abellio East Midlands, will be replacing the current rolling stock on regional and local services with modern refurbished trains, delivering improved customer facilities including passenger information systems, free on-board wi-fi and air conditioning. The details of the procurement and deployment of rolling stock will be a matter for Abellio.

British Transport Police

lord palmer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is (1) the role, and (2) the total complement, of the British Transport Police.

baroness vere of norbiton: The British Transport Police (BTP) is responsible for policing the rail network across England, Scotland and Wales, providing a service to rail operators, their staff and passengers. It also polices the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, the Midland Metro tram system, Croydon Tramlink, Tyne and Wear Metro, Glasgow Subway and Emirates AirLine. The BTP has 3107 police officers, 303 police community support officers, 311 special officers and 1567 police staff (as at 31 March 2019).

Aviation: Prosecutions

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases the Civil Aviation Authority referred for criminal prosecution for illegal flights since the Piper PA-46 Malibu crash on 21 January.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases the Civil Aviation Authority referred for criminal prosecution for illegal flightsbetween 1 January 2015and21 January 2019.

baroness vere of norbiton: The CAA will prosecute people where there is sufficient evidence, and where it is in the public interest to do so, but enforcement action will vary depending on the circumstances of the incident. It may include educating individuals or organisations on the regulations to avoid breaches, a formal warning, the revocation of licences, approvals or certificates, and/ or criminal investigations and prosecutions. The CAA has not referred any such cases for criminal prosecution since 1 January 2015, however earlier this year, they assisted with the prosecution of an individual in the Manchester Crown Court for, among other things, illegal public transport.

Aviation: Regulation

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherexisting legislation in relation to illegal flights has been the subject of a review since the Piper PA-46 Malibu crash on 21 January; and what further steps are being taken to ensure that such legislation is fit for purpose.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority keep all existing legislation under constant review, in order to maintain the UK’s high standards of Aviation Safety. This includes legislation relating to illegal flights. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority’s Internal Safety Assurance Review of Illegal Public Transport will consider whether there are any gaps in the current regulatory regime, with this review due to conclude by August 2019.

Aviation: Regulation

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to counter the prevalence of illegal flights.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regularly conduct campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal public transport operations, and to guide consumers on what to look for when chartering an aircraft to ensure the flight is legal. The CAA is currently planning further work to educate consumers about the rules, and the potential risks of illegal charter flights. The CAA will prosecute people where there is sufficient evidence, and where it is in the public interest to do so, but enforcement action will vary depending on the circumstances of the incident. It includes educating individuals or organisations on the regulations to avoid breaches, a formal warning, the revocation of licences, approvals or certificates, or criminal investigations and prosecutions. The CAA publishes the detail and outcome of all successful prosecutions since 2005 on its website at https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/About-us/Enforcement-and-prosecutions/. These include successful prosecutions for illegal public transport. Earlier this year, the CAA assisted with the prosecution of an individual in the Manchester Crown Court for, among other things, illegal public transport.Both the CAA and the police encourage the reporting of potential illegal activity at airfields and provide a number of channels, including confidential reporting, for concerns to be reported.

Aviation: Regulation

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment ofany potential conflict of interest arising from the Civil Aviation Authority conductingits own review into illegal flights and the Authority being responsible for implementing any recommendations resulting from that review.

baroness vere of norbiton: The review is being led by the CAA’s Safety & Business Assurance team, whose role is to provide assurance to the CAA Board about the effectiveness of the CAA’s safety regulatory activities. The CAA’s Safety & Business Assurance team works independently of its regulatory teams and its role is to provide assurance to the CAA Board about the effectiveness of the CAA’s safety regulatory activities. Where Safety Assurance activities result in recommendations, appropriate owners, related actions and closure timescales are agreed with the CAA team responsible. The Safety & Business Assurance team then monitors the completion of those actions.

Driving: Licensing

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 26 June (HL16465),whatwas the (1) shortest, and (2) longest, time taken by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2018 to send a questionnaire to a doctor after having received a request for a driving licence to be reinstated.

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 26 June (HL16465), how long, on average, it takes theDriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to reach a decision on whether to reinstate a driving licence to someone who had been deemed previously to be medically unfit to drive once it has received the necessary completed questionnaire from a doctor; and what was the (1) shortest, and (2) longest, time taken by the DVLA to reach such a decision after receiving such a questionnaire in 2018.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department is unable to provide the information requested as it would require the interrogation of each medical driving licence case and would therefore result in a disproportionate cost to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA dealt with around 750,000 medical cases in 2017/18. It took an average of 32 working days after the receipt of an application to make a licensing decision.

Leader of the House of Lords

Select Committee Reports (Government Responses)

lord norton of louth: To ask the Leader of the House how many, and which, reports from House of Lords select committees published since January 2018 have not received a substantive Government response within two months of publication.

baroness evans of bowes park: Since 1 January 2018, there have been 25 reports which did not receive Government responses within two months of publication. There are currently five reports that have yet to receive a substantive Government response within two months of publication. These are: Brexit: The Customs Challenge (EU External Affairs Sub-Committee); Brexit: The Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration (EU Committee); Measuring Inflation (Economic Affairs Committee); Beyond Brexit: How to win friends and influence people (EU Committee); and Forensic science and the criminal justice system: a blueprint for change (Science and Technology Committee).

Government Bills

lord norton of louth: To ask the Leader of the House how many Government Bills since May 2015 have been published in draft and referred for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee or committee of either House; and what proportion these constitute of all Government Bills introduced in that period.

baroness evans of bowes park: Since May 2015, 13 Government Bills have been published in draft and referred for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee or committee of either House; this constitutes 14.43% of all Government Bills introduced in that period.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15847), what recent assessment they have made of (1) the impact of Honda's decision to close its Swindon plant in 2021, and (2) other recent announcements by car manufacturers on (a) the regional economy, (b) the national economy, (c) regional GDP, and (d) national GDP.

lord henley: We have not made an assessment at this time. We have, however, set up the Honda Swindon Taskforce, chaired by my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, which will look to support those affected and to continue Swindon’s record of attracting investment to create highly-skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for years to come.Automotive manufacturing is a critical industry for the UK, contributing £16.6bn gross value added in 2018 (0.9% of the economy) and 165,000 jobs (0.5% of the UK Workforce).Honda took the decision to close its Swindon plant in 2021 with the potential loss of 3,500 jobs. The automotive manufacturing sector was last estimated to account for around 0.8% of the economy of the South West Region and around 8,000 jobs (0.3% of its total employment). The Secretary of State has been working closely with local partners, Honda and the Trade Unions to fully understand and mitigate the impact of this decision on the workforce, the local area and the supply chain. The Honda Taskforce last met for a third time on 19 June.We are doing everything to support businesses, their workforce and communities affected by the announcements. We continue the strive to attract investment, creating highly-skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for years to come.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15847), what recent estimate they have made of the number of job lossesthat will resultfrom (1) Honda's decision to close its Swindon plant in 2021,and (2) other recent announcements by car manufacturers.

lord henley: We have not made an assessment at this time. We have, however, set up the Honda Swindon Taskforce, chaired by my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, which will look to support those affected and to continue Swindon’s record of attracting investment to create highly-skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for years to come. We are doing everything possible to support businesses, their workforce and communities affected by the announcements. We continue the strive to attract investment, creating highly-skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for years to come.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15847),what recent assessment they have made of the impact of (1) Honda's decision to close its Swindon plant in 2021, and (2) other recent announcements by car manufacturers, on the wider supply chain.

lord henley: The Government is working with the car manufacturers and key industry groups to identify and assess supply chain risks in all cases where car manufacturing operations are expected to cease or reduce. It is a complex picture and it is difficult to project the number of potential job losses. Every effort is being made to minimise job losses by supporting affected suppliers to identify new opportunities to sustain and potentially grow their businesses before the impact of these announcements comes to pass.My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy convened the latest meeting of the Honda Swindon Task Force on 19 June bringing together civic leaders, local partners and MPs, Honda, Unite the Union, sector representatives and leading government officials. I am pleased to confirm that the Government announced this April that Swindon will be one of twelve new Institutes of Technology to be set up across the country to boost the nation's skills and set more young people on a clear path to high quality and well-paid jobs. I strongly support this announcement, with Swindon being selected from a highly competitive field, which is testament to the hard work of Swindon College and the consortia involved in the bid. This will build on Swindon's reputation and heritage for world beating manufacturing and engineering, putting Swindon at the heart of the industries and jobs of tomorrow.The Government has recently launched the £16m National Manufacturing Competitiveness Levels (NMCL) supply chain programme, which is designed to improve competitiveness, raise workforce capability, and increase the productivity of automotive suppliers. The programme is open to Honda suppliers. The Task Force is expected to continue to meet on a regular basis to assess and mitigate impacts stemming from closure of Honda operations in Swindon.We are doing everything possible to support businesses, their workforce and communities affected by the announcements. We continue the strive to attract investment, creating highly-skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for years to come.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

lord livermore: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 20 May (HL15847),what recent estimate they have made of the number of job losses in the wider supply chainthat will result from (1) Honda's decision to close its Swindon plant in 2021, and (2) other recent announcements by car manufacturers.

lord henley: The Government is working with the car manufacturers and key industry groups to identify and assess supply chain risks in all cases where car manufacturing operations are expected to cease or reduce. It is a complex picture and it is difficult to project the number of potential job losses. Every effort is being made to minimise job losses by supporting affected suppliers to identify new opportunities to sustain and potentially grow their businesses before the impact of these announcements comes to pass.The Government has recently launched the £16m National Manufacturing Competitiveness Levels (NMCL) supply chain programme, which is designed to improve competitiveness, raise workforce capability, and increase the productivity of automotive suppliers. The programme is open to Honda suppliers.The Government will continue to assess UK wide supply chain risks have so far identified over 60 supply chain companies directly impacted by the Honda decision. We are working across all LEP areas and with the Devolved Nations to protect and support Honda supply chain businesses across the UK. As well as work across Government to measure the potential short and long-term economic shock from Honda and any supply chain closures on the UK economy (including within other sectors).There are more than 2500 automotive supply chain companies in the UK, including 18 of the world's 20 biggest automotive suppliers, producing approximately £12.7bn worth of parts.I am pleased to confirm that the Government announced this April that Swindon will be one of twelve new Institutes of Technology to be set up across the country to boost the nation's skills and set more young people on a clear path to high quality and well-paid jobs.We are doing everything possible to support businesses, their workforce and communities affected by the announcements. We continue the strive to attract investment, creating highly-skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for years to come.

Construction: Migrant Workers

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact on the ability of the construction industry to recruit skilled workers from the EU of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

lord henley: The Government has set up a cross Whitehall skills group to review the construction skills shortage and the effect of a reduction in migrant workers in a no deal outcome. The analysis highlighted the effects of the government’s current training efforts and improved uptake on digital and offsite construction and the impact it would have on the construction skills shortage. CITB’s Construction Skills Network forecasts that the construction industry will need to fill 168,500 jobs between now and 2023. If construction continued to grow at the current rate of 1.1% – the average growth rate for the last five years – to 2030 this would increase to just over 250,000 jobs to fill by 2025, and 410,000 by 2030. Government will focus on high skills to prioritise those migrant workers who bring in the most benefit to the UK, including the 7% of EU nationals working in UK construction to maximise the benefits of immigration through a single skills-based system. Government is therefore committed to engaging with industry on the Immigration White Paper over the coming year to shape the details of the final policy and processes; and we are introducing measures to increase skills and apprenticeships through the Construction Sector Deal which aims to transform the productivity of the sector. The deal sets an industry-led target of increasing the number of apprenticeships starts to 25,000 per annum by 2020. Other measures include £34m investment in the Construction Skills Fund, to establish 20 onsite training hubs by 2020; an improved careers portal for the sector (through CITB’s GoConstruct), to help improve diversity of recruitment; work with industry to ensure sufficient high-quality work placements are available for the introduction of construction T Levels in 2020; and using public procurement to help drive investment in construction skills.

Business: Billing

baroness bakewell of hardington mandeville: To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms are, or will be, in place to enforce their proposed new powers for the Small Business Commissioner to tackle late payments through fines, announced on 19 June.

lord henley: We will be consulting on the provision of new powers, given the Commissioner’s powers are underpinned by Primary Legislation. Following the consultation, we will consider representations made to Government carefully – any new powers will require further work post-consultation on the best way to implement.

Business: Billing

baroness bakewell of hardington mandeville: To ask Her Majesty's Government how companies which are too small to have boards will be held accountable for supply chain payment practices under the proposed new powers for the Small Business Commissioner, announced on 19 June.

lord henley: Under current legislation the Commissioner can consider complaints about payment issues, including payment issues within the supply chain, between small businesses (with fewer than 50 staff) and their larger private sector customers (with more than 50 staff), and make non-binding recommendations.We must first consult on the provision of any new powers, given the Commissioner’s powers are underpinned by Primary Legislation. Following the consultation, we will consider representations made to Government carefully – any new powers will require further work post-consultation on the best way to implement.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Egypt: Human Rights

lord judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about the imprisonment and treatment of former President Morsi before his death in court; and what is their current assessment of the state of human rights in Egypt.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have been following recent developments in Egypt carefully and have been receiving regular updates. We await the results of the independent forensic report ordered by the Egyptian Prosecutor General into the causes and circumstances of former President Morsi's death.Egypt is a human rights priority country for the UK, and we monitor the situation closely. We continue to voice our concerns, including in our recent statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 12 March and in our Human Rights Report, released on 5 June. In particular, prison conditions are one of our three human rights priorities in Egypt. We raise access to medical care and solitary confinement regularly with the Egyptian Government.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government which programmes they are funding to support the actions agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 broken down by (1) the budgeted amount, (2) the current level of actual expenditure, and (3) the expected timeline fordisbursingthatfunding.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: At the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Leaders agreed a range of actions to deliver a future that is fairer, more prosperous, more sustainable, and more secure. The Government has allocated approximately £526.7 million to programmes and projects to support delivery of these ambitious commitments. As of 31 March, £187.1 million had been disbursed. The remaining funds are expected to be disbursed over varying timeframes with completion dates ranging from March 2020 to March 2025.A list of UK-funded programmes and projects has been placed in the Library of the House. Furthermore, the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) on 15 May to provide an update on delivery of CHOGM commitments. This report can be accessed via the FAC's website.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanismswill be used to evaluate the UKfunding used to support the actions agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: All UK-funded programmes and projects to support actions agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 are subject to thorough monitoring and evaluation. The majority of such programmes and projects are subject to the standard monitoring and evaluation processes of either the Department for International Development (DFID) or the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. Annual Reviews of those projects are published online on gov.uk and DFID's Development Tracker.Mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of other UK-funded programmes and projects to support actions agreed at CHOGM 2018 vary, but common elements include annual reviews, site visits, log frame reporting, and regular progress meetings.

Cabinet Office

Departmental Records: Archives

lord rodgers of quarry bank: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the arrangements for preserving departmental archives; and when the Cabinet Secretary last reviewed record management practices.

lord young of cookham: The National Archives monitors departments’ compliance with the Public Records Act 1958 and progress towards transition to the 20 year rule. The Chief Executive and Keeper updates the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport annually on the 20 year rule transition and engages with the Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretaries where necessary.John Manzoni wrote to all other Permanent Secretaries in January 2019 to brief them about digital records management.

Children

baroness d'souza: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for appointing a minister for children at Cabinet level.

lord young of cookham: My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families at the Department for Education has a wide range of responsibilities for children's interests and that work is represented at Cabinet by the Secretary of State for Education.

Freedom of Information

lord shipley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to include housing associations and tenant management organisations.

lord young of cookham: The Government agrees that landlords, including housing associations, should be accountable and transparent in their dealings with tenants and be responsive to their needs. However, we do not believe the extension of the FOI to housing associations is the best means of achieving that.Housing Associations are already required to make a significant amount of information public. They are required to publish their accounts annually, including a strategic report covering issues such as the remunerations of key personnel.The Regulator of Social Housing, which regulates the sector, also publishes information supplied by Housing Association at individual provider level, including details of their stock holdings, rent levels and evictions.

Department of Health and Social Care

Abscesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many peoplehad venous leg ulcers in each of the last three years in England.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The information is not available in the format requested.

Abscesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent by NHS England to treat venous leg ulcers in each of the last three years.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that there are no data routinely collected and centrally held on the cost of treating venous leg ulcers.

Abscesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people had surgery to treat venous leg ulcers in England in each of the last three years.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The information is not available in the format requested.

Abscesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance is issued to (1) hospitals, and (2) GPs, in England about treating venous leg ulcers.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: There is a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Clinical Knowledge Summary regarding venous leg ulcers available online only, which includes details on venous leg ulcer management. NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that whilst this provides some guidance, it is not a full guideline.NHS England and NHS Improvement have also advised that hospitals and community services have, in some cases, developed their own guidance based on research findings and expert opinion.

Abscesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government why NHS England promotes compression dressings as the treatment for venous leg ulcers.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that compression therapy is an evidencebased venous leg ulcer treatment. A Cochrane systematic review summarised all the available evidence for compression as a treatment for venous leg ulcers, which shows that people with venous leg ulcers are more likely to heal if they receive compression than if they do not.Further research funded by the National Institute for Health Research has shown that compression stockings are as effective as compression bandages for healing venous leg ulcers and are more cost-effective, and that a particular type of compression bandage (the four layer bandage) is more effective at healing ulcers than another type (the short-stretch bandage).

Abscesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent (1) representations they have received, and (2) discussions they have had, about the treatment of venous leg ulcers in the last 12 months.

baroness blackwood of north oxford: The Department has responded to four Written Questions about the treatment of leg ulcers in the last 12 months.There have been no specific discussions about the treatment of venous leg ulcers.

Department for Education

English Language: Education

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills on 18 March (232096), when they expect to publish plans for the additional funding they will make available to support their English language strategy beyond the current EnglishLanguage Coordination Fund.

lord agnew of oulton: The department is currently in the process of developing the strategy for English for speakers of other languages and we are carefully considering the available evidence on resources and funding for English language provision. The department plans to publish the strategy in Autumn 2019.

Pupil Premium: Adoption

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many adopted children currently receive pupil premium plus.

lord agnew of oulton: Local authorities receive funding for post-looked after children (post-LAC) pupils through the pupil premium plus grant. This covers pupils that are no longer in the local authorities’ care having been adopted or placed through a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order. In 2019-20 funding was allocated to local authorities for 52,492 such pupils. This information is provided in the document titled Pupil premium allocations 2019 to 2020: national, local authority, parliamentary constituency level (attached), which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2019-to-2020.



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Further Education: Teachers

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ahead of the spending review of the effect of trends in the level of (1) pay, and (2) workload, on the recruitment and retention of teachers in the further education sector.

lord agnew of oulton: Further Education (FE) providers are private sector institutions, independent from the government, and so are responsible for setting their own staff pay and conditions. However, we acknowledge that FE faces cost pressures, and that this can impact on teacher pay and workload. The department will be making a strong case for increased FE funding, including for investment in FE teacher recruitment and retention ahead of the Spending Review.We value our FE teachers and all the excellent work they do, which is why, since 2013-14, we have invested over £140 million in FE teachers and leaders. This includes workforce development through the independent Education and Training Foundation.The department has worked closely with the FE sector, including providers and representative bodies, to understand the challenges for teacher recruitment and retention, and see where we can provide appropriate support. We have also commissioned research on the impact of previous incentives which is attached and available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/incentive-programmes-for-the-recruitment-and-retention-of-teachers-in-further-education-fe.Research has also been conducted looking at comparable professions which is attached and available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identifying-fe-teacher-comparators. These research projects have been commissioned to inform our planning for the upcoming Spending Review.Ultimately, we know that lower teacher pay makes recruitment and retention more difficult in FE when compared to school teaching and relevant industries. We also know that workload is often one of the main reasons given for leaving the profession. Our Workload Reduction Toolkit, developed by system leaders, teachers and other experts (though aimed primarily at school teachers and leaders) can also be used by FE providers. The Toolkit is attached and available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reducing-workload-in-your-school.More widely, we know that ensuring teacher wellbeing is essential, which is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced earlier this year the establishment of an expert advisory group on wellbeing. This group brings together experts from the wellbeing, schools and FE fields who are providing expert advice and working with us to look at what government, FE colleges and others can do to promote staff wellbeing.



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Further Education

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to mitigate the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the economic sustainability of the further education sector.

lord agnew of oulton: The department is considering all aspects of how exiting the EU might affect education and training in England. This includes consideration of participation in EU funded programmes, future arrangements for migration, and access to student finance support. Earlier this year, the department published a number of no deal notices to advise education organisations on how to prepare, including one for further education (FE) and apprenticeship providers.Our initial assessment is that, overall, there would be limited direct financial or economic impact on the FE sector of a no deal exit. However, the department will continue to keep this under review, alongside our normal monitoring of the financial health of the college sector.

Children's Centres

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to receive the Early Intervention Foundation's reviewChildren's centres and beyond: understanding the changing face of integrated local early years support.

lord agnew of oulton: We have commissioned the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) to review research and practice evidence with the aim of developing tools to help local authorities make informed choices about their children’s centre provision.EIF funding runs to March 2020, as part of the Department for Education’s wider local government programme, and we expect EIF’s work to conclude by then or shortly after.

Overseas Students

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact on overseas student numbers wishing to study in the UK of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

viscount younger of leckie: The recently published International Education Strategy stated the government’s ambition to increase the number of international students hosted by UK universities to 600,000 by 2030, from 458,000 currently. The government is committed to this ambition regardless of the outcome of negotiations with the EU. We have made no estimate of the number of overseas students that will attend UK higher education institutions (HEIs) in the future.The department recognises that prospective students and providers are concerned about what EU exit means for study and collaboration opportunities. To help give certainty, on May 28 2019, we announced guarantees on student finance for EU nationals. These guarantees are not altered if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. EU nationals (and their family members) who start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course provided they meet the residency requirement. We will provide sufficient notice for prospective EU students on fee arrangements ahead of the 2021/22 academic year and subsequent years in future.We have also provided certainty for EU nationals wanting to come to the UK after Brexit. In the event that a deal is not agreed with the EU, arrangements for European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens arriving for 3 months or less after free movement ends will not look any different. To stay longer than 3 months during the transitional period, newly arrived EEA and Swiss citizens will need to apply for permission. Subject to identity and criminality checks, they will be given European Temporary Leave to Remain for a further 36 months. If EEA or Swiss citizens want to stay in the UK for longer than 36 months, for example to complete a 4-year course, they will need to apply and qualify for an immigration status under the main study routes of the UK’s new skills-based immigration system. Alternatively, EEA and Swiss citizens will be able to apply under Tier 4 of the Points Based System for a student visa to cover the full length of their course.

Pupil Exclusions

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they ensure that nochildren are off-rolled by schools.

lord agnew of oulton: The department is clear that off-rolling, as defined by Ofsted, is unacceptable, and whilst the department believes this practice is relatively rare, the government is committed to continue working with Ofsted to tackle the practice of off-rolling.Pupils leave school rolls for many reasons including: permanent exclusion, moving to another school, or changes of circumstances (such as when a pupil moves to a new area). All schools must notify the local authority when a pupil’s name is to be deleted from the admission register. There is no legal definition of ‘off-rolling’. However, the law is clear that a pupil’s name can only be deleted from the admission register on the grounds prescribed in regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended.Following media coverage of off-rolling in 2017, the department wrote to all secondary schools, reminding them of the rules surrounding exclusion.Ofsted already considers records of children taken off roll and has recently consulted on proposals that will see a strengthened focus on this issue. From September 2019, where inspectors find evidence of off-rolling, this will be addressed in the inspection report, and where appropriate will lead to a school’s leadership being judged inadequate.In March 2018, the government launched an externally-led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review explored how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics are more likely to be excluded from school. It also considered the differences in exclusion rates across primary and secondary schools in England.The Timpson Review and government’s response were published on 7 May. The review makes 30 recommendations and highlights variation in exclusions practice across different schools, local authorities and certain groups of children. The government has accepted all 30 recommendations in principle, and the department has committed to working with education leaders over the summer to design a consultation on making schools accountable for the outcomes for permanently excluded children, to be launched in the autumn. As part of this, the department will seek views on how to mitigate the potential unintended consequences Edward Timpson has identified in his review, including the practice of off-rolling.

Ministry of Justice

Parole

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the target times for (1) approving, and (2) completing, applications for Release on Temporary Licence for each prison in England and Wales.

lord keen of elie: We recently made changes so that Governors can consider release on temporary licence (ROTL) earlier and in more cases, and prisoners can enter the workplace sooner. By providing opportunities to work, learn and build family ties, temporary release from prison helps ensure offenders do not return to crime when they leave prison. ROTL must be a standing item in sentence planning meetings, starting with the one immediately before the offender becomes eligible to be considered for day release or after arriving in open conditions. An outline ROTL plan for the remainder of the sentence should be in place as soon as possible and no later than 8 weeks after arrival in open conditions, which is where we expect the majority of ROTL. Governors must ensure that all necessary risk assessments and security arrangements are actioned before ROTL is approved and takes place. This includes consultation with probation services and external agencies and allowing victims the opportunity to make representations about conditions to be attached to any release. Guidance to practitioners allows four weeks for this consultation.

Offenders: Homelessness

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the number of people being released homeless from prisons in England

lord keen of elie: The Ministry of Justice understands that It is vital that everyone leaving prison has somewhere safe, stable and secure to live.Through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy, we will invest up to £6.4 milion in a pilot scheme to support individuals released from three prisons, namely Bristol, Leeds and Pentonville. Following a mobilisation period, we expect services to commence later this summer. This is a concrete step in our commitment to tackling rough sleeping.Since the commencement on 1 October of the duty to refer service users who may be homeless, or threatened with homelessness, to the local authority, there has been a steady flow of referrals from prisons and probation providers. We will continue to promote this duty, and to support prisons and probation providers to ensure it is carried out effectively.

Department for International Trade

Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they approve export licences for the supply of arms to Saudi Arabia.

viscount younger of leckie: The Department for International Trade is responsible for licensing the export of arms and military equipment. All export licence applications for arms exports to Saudi Arabia are approved where they are assessed to be consistent with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria which were announced to Parliament by the then Business Secretary on 25 March 2014. All relevant information, from a wide range of sources, is taken into account when assessing export licence applications, including the capability of the equipment to be exported, the end-user and stated end-use, and the risk of misuse or diversion to undesirable end-users.

Overseas Trade: India

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to advance UK trading relations with India post-Brexit.

viscount younger of leckie: India and the UK already enjoy a strong bilateral trading relationship. Last year overall trade grew by 14% to £20.5bn in comparison to 2017. The UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) allows for Ministerial discussion on our trade interests with the Indian Government. In 2016, both sides agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Trade reporting to the JETCO with a specific aim of addressing non-tariff trade barriers. Excellent progress is being made in unlocking barriers in specific sectors. We are exploring the expansion of this work, laying the groundwork for an ambitious trading relationship with India in the future.

Department for Work and Pensions

Pension Credit

baroness blackstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of those eligible for Pension Credit are taking up that benefit.

baroness blackstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to increase the take-up of Pension Credit.

baroness buscombe: Latest National Statistics estimate that 60 per cent of those eligible for Pension Credit are in receipt of it. The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances. The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on GOV.UK, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit. Potential claimants can use the Pension Credit toolkit to check if they are likely to be eligible and get an estimate of what they may receive. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234. One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found on Gov.UK The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits. Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and the recent changes for mixed age couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.

Health

lord bird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any lessons to be learnt for improving the environmental, social, economic and cultural well-being of people in all regions of the UK from the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

baroness buscombe: The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 relates to devolved matters therefore it is for the Welsh Government to consider any lessons learnt in respect of Wales.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Trees: Diseases

lord framlingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in the last 12 months to pursue the possibility of a quarantine system for all imported trees.

lord gardiner of kimble: In May 2018 the Secretary Of State published the Tree Health Resilience Strategy and a National Action Plan which included a commitment to consult on the potential for quarantine for high risk plant species. We have recently completed an informal phase of engagement with the Tree Health Policy Group on this issue, and are now conducting research to help shape a formal consultation phase. The research aims to increase the evidence base for the volume and type of plants which enter the UK and identify what specific pest/host combinations pose the highest risk and may be suitable for quarantine measures.

Trees: Diseases

lord framlingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase public awareness at all points of entry into the UK of the dangers of introducing tree disease on plants of any kind brought into the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: Last year, the Government launched the Don’t Risk It communications campaign to encourage the travelling public not to risk bringing plant pests and disease into the UK. This summer, advertising space has been secured at the departure lounges of two of the UK’s busiest airports, Gatwick and Manchester, in addition to the plant health messaging at the Border Force arrivals channels. The Don’t Risk It campaign has featured in the Brittany Ferries passenger magazine which has an estimated reach of over 300,000 travellers, and is also being highlighted in the July edition of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) The Garden magazine. This will be accompanied by a social media campaign and a visible public presence that includes all RHS shows as well as important regional events such as the Royal Welsh Show.

Home Office

Oppression

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of what constitutes persecution of groups of people.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government defines persecution as an act that is sufficient serious in nature and repetition as to constitute a severe violation of basic human rights. Such acts could be perpetrated against individuals or groups of people.The definition is contained in the Refugee or Person in Need of International Protection (Qualification) Regulations 2006, which reflect the Refugee Convention and EU law.We support those who have suffered persecution by providing a place of safety for refugees through our resettlement schemes and the in-country asylum process.

Home Office: Offenders

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their personnel policies and procedures would allow ex-offenders to be employed in the Home Office for duties involving immigration or border control.

baroness williams of trafford: Home Office staff are held to the highest standards of honesty and integrity and all candidates who are considered for appointment undergo stringent pre-employment and security checks before taking up post.We recognise the contribution that former offenders can make to our workforce, however, in deciding whether to make an appointment we would consider a range of factors, including the nature of the position and the circumstances of the offence.

Offences against Children

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of victims of grooming gangs in England and Wales; what proportion of the perpetrators involved in such gangs they estimate to have been Muslim; and what assistance they provide to victims of such gangs.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has estimated that there were approximately 6,850 victims of organised child sexual exploitation in the UK in 2015. This estimate includes organised child sexual exploitation committed by groups and gangs within a range of contexts. There is no data that delineates crimes which might be described as “grooming gang” offending from other forms of child sexual exploitation.Government does not hold data on the religious beliefs of offenders.The Government attaches the highest priority to tackling all forms of sexual exploitation and to ensuring that all victims and survivors get the protection and support they need.The Government provides funding for support services across the country to help victims and survivors cope and recover. Funding for specialised rape and sexual abuse support services has increased this year by 10%, totalling £24m over the next three years. In 2019/20, the Government will also provide around £68m to PCCs to commission emotional and practical support services for victims of crime in their area. £4.7m of this funding is ring-fenced for supporting victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Offences against Children

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 7 August 2018 (HL9879 and HL9880), what discussions they have had, and with whom, about the investigation of whether any police officers and council officials failed to fulfil their statutory duty to protect victims of grooming gangs; and whether there have been any prosecutions of any such officers and officials.

baroness williams of trafford: The extent to which statutory authorities have failed to protect children from sexual exploitation is being investigated by bodies that are rightly independent of Government.The Government established the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse to consider the extent to which institutions in England and Wales have failed in their duty to protect children from sexual abuse. The Inquiry has announced that it is investigating child sexual exploitation by organised networks and will examine the extent to which the relevant authorities effectively identified the risk and took action to prevent it. The Inquiry operates independently of Government and, within its terms of reference, decides for itself what it investigates and how.The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigates the most serious and sensitive incidents and allegations involving the police. The IOPC is independent of Government and the police, and is responsible for the investigations it carries out.Government does not hold information on prosecutions specifically relating to different types of misconduct in a public office.

Northern Ireland Office

Counter-terrorism: Northern Ireland

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have provided to date to address terrorism in Northern Ireland under the Defence and Security Review of 2015.

lord duncan of springbank: Policing is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the PSNI’s main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland block grant, through the Policing Board. The UK Government has provided the PSNI with the additional security funding it has asked for and needs to ensure that they have the resource (including officers) to tackle the SEVERE threat from Northern Ireland related terrorism. This additional security funding boosts PSNI’s ability to tackle the terrorist threat while ensuring day-to-day policing isn’t compromised. PSNI received £230m additional security funding in the last parliament, and £160m in this one. They have also received the £16.5m requested for this financial year to help manage pressures and contingencies arising from EU exit preparations.

Treasury

Gambling: Taxation

lord browne of belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what gambling activities are subject to (1) value-added tax, and (2) gross profits tax; and how much value-added tax was collected from adult gaming centres in England and Wales in (a) 2017, and (b) 2018.

lord young of cookham: (1) Almost all gambling activities are exempt from value added tax (VAT). However, VAT does apply to prize machines that offer non-cash prizes only. Such machines are not typically located in adult gaming centres. (2) There are seven Gambling Duties. Of these, six are based broadly on a gross profits tax model. The seventh, Lottery Duty is based on a percentage of the value of ticket sales. Total receipts from Betting and Gaming are published on the UK Trade Information website. A separate breakdown for value added tax collected from adult gaming centres in England and Wales is not available.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Digital Economy and Society Index 2019, published by the European Commission in June, in particular its finding that the UK (1) has fallen from 7th to 10th on the measure of Digital Connectivity, and (2) ranks 26th out of 28 countries for full fibre (FTTP) coverage.

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of UK customers have access to 100Mbps broadband; and whether they intend to ensure that the UK meets the European Commission’s target for 50per cent of all broadband customers to have 100Mbps by 2020.

lord ashton of hyde: The UK compares well on superfast connectivity and it is currently available to over 96% of UK premises, following over £1bn of public investment. This is above European counterparts like Spain, France and Germany. Demand for these services is also increasing with 45% of households now opting for a superfast service. This deployment is also supported by competition from ultrafast services of at least 100Mbps, currently available to 53% of UK premises. We are now focussing on full fibre. Published last year, the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review set out our national strategy for ensuring 15m premises are able to connect to full fibre by 2025, with a nationwide network by 2033. Coverage is increasing quickly, and is now approaching 8% with around half of this coverage achieved in the last 12 months.

Broadband: Universal Service Obligation

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the implementation of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband; what recent assessment they have made of whether a 10Mbpsminimum is fit for purpose for the modern economy; and when they plan to review the USO.

lord ashton of hyde: On 6 June 2019, the telecoms regulator Ofcom, responsible for implementing the USO, announced that customers will be able to request Universal Service Obligation (USO) connections from March 2020, in line with the Government’s commitment. The USO will give customers the right to request a broadband connection with a download speed of at least 10Mbps. This download speed and the other quality parameters of the USO are in line with Ofcom’s advice on the needs of a typical household at present. However, recognising that take-up and use of broadband changes, the Government legislated to enable it to direct Ofcom to carry out reviews of the USO. Any review would look not just at the minimum download speed but all aspects of the USO specification. There is also a formal requirement for the Government to direct Ofcom to undertake a review when superfast broadband has been taken up by 75% of UK premises.  The USO is designed to act as a safety net to ensure everyone can access a minimum level of connectivity but the Government is also committed to investing to deliver faster speeds across the UK. Our Superfast programme has ensured superfast broadband (24mbps) coverage for over 96% of UK premises. Further, in the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, the Government committed to an “outside-in” approach to the deployment of gigabit capable broadband, which will ensure that the least commercial areas of the country get this type of connectivity at the same time as the market deploys to more commercial areas. The first step in this approach is the £200 million Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) Programme, which will test a model of connecting public sector buildings with gigabit capable connections, starting with primary schools. The RGC programme also has a rural gigabit broadband voucher component, offering up to £3,500 for small businesses and up to £1,500 for residents to encourage the take-up of gigabit-capable connectivity by residents and businesses in rural areas.

Telecommunications: Compensation

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much automatic compensation has been paid to broadband and home phone customers by members of Ofcom’s voluntary code of practice sincethat code came into force in April.

lord ashton of hyde: In March 2017, Ofcom consulted on an automatic compensation scheme for fixed broadband and landline consumers. Following the consultation, providers serving 90% of these consumers agreed to introduce a voluntary automatic compensation scheme, which came into effect from 1 April 2019. The scheme compensates consumers for delayed repairs following a loss of service, missed repairs or appointments, and delays to the start of a new service. Ofcom plans to review the scheme, including the amount of compensation paid out by providers, next year.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Departmental Records

lord rodgers of quarry bank: To ask Her Majesty's Government where the historic records of the Department forDigital, Culture, Media and Sportand its predecessor departments are stored and kept other than in the National Archives.

lord ashton of hyde: The Department maintains its archive records at Iron Mountain, whilst transferring those considered historically important to The National Archives in perpetuity.

Disinformation

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they aretaking to combat advances in digital technology to counter difficult-to-detect digital manipulations of audio or video recordings.

lord ashton of hyde: The Government recognises the challenges and potential dangers of digitally manipulated content. We are considering these issues carefully as part of the Government’s plan to tackle wider forms of online manipulation and disinformation. Our Online Harms White Paper sets out the actions we expect companies to take to limit the spread of disinformation on their platforms.